Ex-India wicketkeeper Kiran More, now a member of the selection committee, has lauded Rohit Sharma’s appointment as ODI captain, calling it a “very sensible choice.” Many others, including More, think that the choice should have been taken long ago, considering Kohli’s exhaustion from playing all three formats.
The BCCI, while declaring India’s 18-member team for the next Test series against South Africa on December 8, also notified the decision reached by the Chetan Sharma-led national selection committee. However, although the decision was not unexpected, how it was carried out did raise a few eyebrows, especially given Kohli’s prior statements about his desire to remain as India’s Test and One-Day International captain.
More, on the other hand, emphasized the importance of having a captain who can win ICC trophies, which India failed to do under Kohli despite having an exemplary record in bilateral series – he ended up winning nearly 71 percent of the one-day internationals (ODIs) in which he led India and is the fourth-best ODI captain in the history of the game in terms of win percentage.
Virat’s bilateral records are outstanding, but you must win ICC tournaments to be successful: Kiran More.
“It’s a fantastic decision for the One-Day Internationals and Twenty20 Internationals. I will not interfere with his (Virat Kohli’s) position as captain of the Test squad. Virat has led India in two World Cups, the most recent in 2021. (50 overs in England and Twenty20 in the UAE). Virat’s bilateral records are outstanding, but you must win ICC tournaments to be successful. It’s critical to understand this,” stated Kiran More. More told News18.com that he believes the selectors made the right decision.
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“Virat can take the lead in Test matches, and Rohit can do the same in white-ball contests. I’m pleased with how things have turned out. In retrospect, this should have taken place a long time ago. In both forms, there was a lot of pressure on Virat to perform well. It had taken its toll. It should have been possible to provide Rohit at least one format sooner,” he said.
He also talked about Ajinkya Rahane
Further, Rohit has been selected as India’s new vice-captain, replacing Ajinkya Rahane, who has been picked to the team for the next series against South Africa despite his struggles with the bat. More believes that Rahane is under pressure even though he is a significant player.
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“Ajinkya has a lot of time left in Test cricket. He is a high-caliber player. He will, without a doubt, have to do well since there is a lot of competition. In Australia, South Africa, and England, he has made significant and critical contributions when the situation called for it. He has produced solid hits, and he is a valuable member of the squad in his role as a batter,” said Kiran More.